Shiver

Arpita could see her house gate. She was tired, afraid and shivering. Her legs were giving in but the destination was near, just a last burst of adrenaline was required.

She could feel the red liquid on her right hand but she didn't care to take a look t it. For all she knew the man was dead by now, she had stabbed him right in the neck. But then again, it was self protection.

The guy had been following her from Riyaz Street, but it was only at the end of Wilbur Cross, an empty street connecting her neighborhood, had the guy made his move. As soon as she felt his hands on her shoulder, she stabbed him with a pencil, hardly daring to open her eyes. All she could see was the deep red shirt that the guy wore.

‘Arpita! God you are late!’ said her mother at the gate.

‘I hope you remember that you cousin has arrived today from New York. He just went out to look for you, you couldn't really have missed him. He was wearing that red silk shirt you had given him last winter.’

Arpita stood still.

All she felt was a shiver, running down her spine. 

--Boibhav Sen

Department of Economics

UG 1